Parents of Durham student Olivia Burt, 20, ‘crushed to death by a barrier in a packed nightclub queue’ reveal devastation at losing ‘beautiful’ daughter

Olivia suffered a serious head injury 'after a group of boys pushed from the rear of the crowd' outside Durham's Missoula nightclub

By Aletha Adu

13th February 2018, 7:48 am

Updated: 14th February 2018, 5:40 am

THE parents of a university student who was crushed to death by a barrier in a packed nightclub queue have revealed their devastation at losing their "beautiful" daughter.

Olivia Burt, 20, suffered a serious head injury after a group of boys pushed from the rear of the crowd outside Missoula nightclub in Durham last Wednesday.

Facebook

Olivia Burt with her mum Paula. The tragic girl's parents have paid a heartbreaking tribute to their daughter who was crushed to death outside a nightclub

North News and Pictures

Cops believe there were several hundred people outside Missoula in Durham queuing at the time of the tragedy

Olivia, who died at the scene despite docs best efforts, was in her first year at Durham University studying natural sciences.

Her emotionally torn parents said in a statement: "We are totally devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful daughter, Olivia.

"She was a wonderful young woman and our words cannot truly express how much we miss her.

"We request that we be allowed to grieve in private and will not be releasing any further statements."

PA:Press Association

Paramedics battled to save her but she died at the scene after sustaining horrific head injuries in the crush

PA:Press Association

Club security guard reportedly gave CPR to the student

North News and Pictures

Onlookers described how they were 'at the mercy of the crowd' when a group of boys pushed into the main queue

Durham University student 'crushed to death by fence outside nightclub'

"Several hundred people" were believed to be queuing outside the Walkergate venue at the time of the incident, according to police.

A student called Rosie said: "We were in the queue waiting to go in and a large group of boys come to get in the queue and for some reason decide they are going to go in faster if we push.

"The barrier toppled over along with all the people."

Facebook

Eyewitnesses told how she died after a fence collapsed during a surge

The Tab

Witnesses told how the large queue formed after the club stopped letting people in. No-one pictured is thought to have been caught up in the tragedy

Police have launched a joint investigation with Durham County Council into her death.

Detective Inspector Andy Smith said: "This was a tragic incident and the whole focus of our investigation at this time is to find out exactly what happened to Olivia.

"We have now spoken to a large number of people who were there on the night, both those working in the area and those who were queuing to get into the nightclub.

"Officers have also examined CCTV footage from the scene, showing the moments leading up to the incident.

"We appreciate there were potentially several hundred people outside the premises, but we are appealing for witnesses to come forward from among those who were closest to Olivia at the time of the incident and saw what took place."